Ball Haye Green have appointed Paul Ogden as the club’s new president and he says he’s looking forward to his new role with the club.

Ogden, a former Green player, is a well known figure in the town of Leek, having also had several spells managing Leek Town.

He’s currently chief scout for National League side Barrow, but insists he will have plenty of time to devote to Ball Haye Green as they look to recover from the loss of the ground they had played on for the past 80 years.

The club managed to secure the use of a pitch at Westwood College, but that meant stepping down from the Staffs County Senior League Premier Division into Division One and losing several of their key players.

However, chairman Ant Knight said the committee was determined to find a new home and get the club back to where it belonged in the Premier Division.

“What happened at the end of last season was a blow for us all, but we were determined not to be beaten. We are working hard to stabilise the club and Paul will help us to do that. He’s passionate about football. When he heard of our predicament, he contacted me and asked if there was anything he could do to help. I went along to see Paul and we talked about the club and what it meant to the town.

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“After a few days I went back to see him and asked if he would like to become the club’s new president and he accepted. I think it’s a great appointment and the club is looking forward to working with Paul,” said Knight.

Ogden, who has years of experience in non-league football with the likes of Leek, Kidsgrove Athletic, Altrincham, Northwich Vics and Witton Albion, was head scout at Mansfield Town under manager Paul Cox, another with Leek Town connections, when they won promotion back to the Football League with a 1-0 win over Wrexham in 2013.

He is hoping he can help Ball Haye Green become a major force in local football once again.

“I have always had a strong affinity with the club, I once played for them, and I know a lot of the great guys who have been behind the success of the club over a number of years,” said Ogden.

“It was a blow for the club to lose the ground they had played on for so many years, because a lot of work went on to make it a top class facility. But with people like Ant (Knight) behind them, I’m sure they will soon be back in the top flight and I am going to do all I can to help them achieve that goal.

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“When Ant came to see me, I liked what he had to say, he’s a great guy and so passionate about Ball Haye Green Football Club. When he returned a few days later to ask if I would like to become president, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I said it would be an honour. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are getting help from the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The club is looking to relocate somewhere in the town so it can get its identity back,” added Ogden, a former textile factory owner in Leek.

“A lot of the people who worked in the mills played for the club.

“Their wives and girlfriends would come down on match days to lend their support. It was a community club in the heart of the town and a well supported club which produced some fantastic players over the years.”